Who to start · 2025-26
John Tavares vs Sam Bennett
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Tavares projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74.
Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 games.
This week Tavares has 1 game left; Bennett has 1 left. We project Tavares for 1.8 ESPN points to Bennett's 1.8.
Sam Bennett has the better number in 22 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Tavares's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.18, Faceoff win % 57.5%, Draw Equity /100 +0.071.
Bennett's biggest edges: Scoring chances 52.5%, Corsi 53.1%, Penalty minutes 82.
Head to head on the dot, Tavares leads Bennett 55–28.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
John Tavares
1.80
fantasy points per game
Sam Bennett
1.74
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, John Tavares has the edge.
| Points per game from | Tavares | Bennett |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.67 | 0.60 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.49 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.09 | 0.19 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.19 |
Per-game rates from the selected sample; blended mixes last season with this season, weighting this season more as games are played. Categories are scored as z-scores against qualified players at the same position. Your custom weights are saved in this browser only.
Head-to-head: Tavares vs Bennett
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Tavares 12G 11A, 115 SOG · Bennett 10G 12A, 91 SOG
Tavares's offensive zone 19–9 · neutral 17–8 · Tavares's defensive zone 19–11 (2020-21 to 2025-26)
Tavares blocked 0 of Bennett's shots; Bennett blocked 1 of Tavares's.
On the ice against each other (Tavares's side)
11:46 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Tavares's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–11
- 47.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.5
- 52.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tavares | Bennett |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-26 | TOR 1–5 FLA | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2026-01-06 | TOR 4–1 FLA | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-12-02 | TOR 4–1 FLA | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-05-18 · PO | TOR 1–6 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-05-16 · PO | TOR 2–0 FLA | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-05-14 · PO | TOR 1–6 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-05-11 · PO | TOR 0–2 FLA | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-05-09 · PO | TOR 4–5 FLA | 2G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-05-07 · PO | TOR 4–3 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-05-05 · PO | TOR 5–4 FLA | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 7S |
| 2025-04-02 | TOR 3–2 FLA | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-03-13 | TOR 2–3 FLA | 1G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 4S |
Latest 12 of 38 meetings.
Every stat, side by side
Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.
Fantasy box score
Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)
Transition, turnovers & faceoffs
Usage
Special teams & discipline
This week's schedule
Sep 28 to Oct 4. More games usually wins a weekly start/sit. Chips show how many fantasy points the opponent allows to the player's position (soft or tough), the Schedule Edge from rest and travel, and the likely opposing goalie with his save percentage. Projections use ESPN default points for the games left.
John Tavares
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2B
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.8 pts
Sam Bennett
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAR
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJS
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.8 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start John Tavares or Sam Bennett in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Tavares projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74. Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 games. Check this week's games and your league's scoring in the fantasy panel above, since more games usually decide a weekly start.
- Who is better, John Tavares or Sam Bennett?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sam Bennett leads in 22 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Tavares and Bennett done against each other?
- In 38 games against each other in our data, Tavares's team went 19–19. Tavares had 23 points (12 goals) and Bennett had 22 (10 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Tavares or Bennett?
- Against each other, Tavares has won 55 and Bennett 28 of their 83 head-to-head draws.
2025-26 regular season from NHL play-by-play, shift charts and NHL EDGE, processed by Edgehalla. Head-to-head covers every loaded season (play-by-play from 2019-20; on-ice matchups from 2025-26).Compare other players →